Carnaval
February/March
The big pre-Lent fiesta, with masked balls, musical parades and copious amounts of food and drink. Colourful costumes and packed bars are the order of the day - proceedings end with the symbolic 'burial of the sardine'.
Sant Joan
23 June
A bedlam of firecrackers, beach bonfires and fun-seeking locals, the Sant Joan festival takes place each 23 June - although the days preceding it are often lively too. Cava is traditionally the tipple of choice.
Sonar
June
A three-day offering at the altar of electronic music and new media, this hugely renowned gathering bills itself as an 'International Festival of Advanced Music and New Media Art'. It hosts thousands of creative professionals, as well as plenty of DJ-based partying.
Festival del Grec
June-August
Barcelona's largest highbrow cultural festival gives a public platform for dance, music, circus and theatre. It takes its name from the Teatre Grec on Montjuic, which is still one of the key venues.
Festes de la Merce
September
Held in honour of Barcelona's patron saint, the week-long Festes de la Merce is Barcelona's biggest annual festival: giants are paraded through the streets, concerts are held and the city as a whole enjoys seven days of firework displays and general merriment.